Clarets hopeful on Keane deal

Chris Boden

Burnley are hoping to seal a permanent deal for on-loan Manchester United centre back Michael Keane.

The England Under 21 international’s loan deal with Burnley is due to expire after Saturday’s home game with QPR.

But Burnley have been working hard to keep the composed defender, who turns 22 on Sunday.

The club have been exploring the possibility of a permanent deal, since landing Keane on loan on deadline day, and now look set to get their man for a fee of around £3m once personal terms are finalised.

Keane had to be patient for his chance to break into the Burnley side, with the long-standing partnership of Michael Duff and Jason Shackell to break up, and had the frustration of missing out on the chance to shine with his parent club as United subsequently suffered a string of defensive injuries.

But he has started the last nine games after Duff picked up a calf injury, and the Stockport-born youngster has certainly impressed.

Boss Sean Dyche said this morning: “There may be some news today pending the usual stuff. We’re just waiting.

“We’ve been in discussions with Keano and Manchester United about it and we’ll see where that goes, but it’s something we’ve been looking at from when we took him on loan.

“It’s nothing new, we’re just trying to take it forward and see how it develops.

“We obviously like the player, we’ve had him with us for a while now and were always interested in signing him.”

Dyche is also pursuing other avenues as he looks to add to his squad: “There’s a couple of situations we’ve been working on, it depends if they come available at the right cost price or cost base, also whether they want to do it etc.

“But we’ve had plenty at that stage which haven’t gone through so we’ll wait and see.”

Dyche will assess skipper Jason Shackell in training as he looks to shake off the calf problem he felt at Newcastle, while David Jones, who missed Monday’s FA Cup tie with Spurs having gone down sick, has now recovered.

Duff is “close now” according to Dyche, but the game with the Hoops will probably come too early.

Meanwhile, Spurs, Manchester City, Liverpool and Newcastle United are thought to be ready to test Burnley’s resolve to hold onto Danny Ings this month.